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Unnati Hooda’s impressive China Open run ended in the quarterfinals against Akane Yamaguchi, losing 16-21, 12-21.
Unnati Hooda lost to Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals (Picture credit: Badminton Photo)
Star Indian shuttler Unnati Hooda’s brilliant run at the China Open was halted by Asian Games bronze medallist and two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals of the tournament, as the Indian shuttler lost 16-21, 12-21 to her much-experienced opponent.
Coming into the quarters on the back of a three-game thrilling win against compatriot PV Sindhu, Unnati was always the underdog, and Yamaguchi used her experience to her advantage to get the better of the Indian teenager.
Unnati was one of the youngest to make qthe uarters of a Super 1000 event at 17 years and eight months. But she needed to aim to go deeper into the event, and standing in her path was Yamaguchi, seeded third.
Yamaguchi has been on the wane against the topmost name, An Se Young, but remains formidable, which she showed during Friday’s match against Unnati.
Unnati had a tiring match against Sindhu and ran the risk of carrying forward that exhaustion, which afflicts most upcoming names not used to this grind.
(More to follow)
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